JP2005092484A - File recording apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a file recording apparatus that executes defragmentation processing at appropriate timing. <P>SOLUTION: In an information recording/reproducing apparatus, at time prescribed by a user (YES in S12), if there are no reservation data on recording and the like (YES in S13), defragmentation processing is necessary (YES in S14) and a standby state in which only a system control circuit is powered is on (YES in S15), a hard disk device is defragmented (S16). The S13 and subsequent steps may be executed on condition that a time comes when the hard disk device is supposed not to be used in the information recording/reproducing apparatus. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a file recording apparatus, and in particular, a file in which defragmentation processing for increasing the physically continuous unused blocks is executed on a recording unit including a plurality of blocks for recording files. The present invention relates to a recording apparatus.

  If writing and deletion are repeatedly performed on a recording medium such as a disk, the arrangement of files in the recording medium becomes discontinuous, and the free space is subdivided. As subdivision progresses, the number of continuous free areas decreases, so the number of files that cannot fit in any free space increases. For this reason, it is necessary to divide the file and store it in a plurality of free areas.

  Conventionally, such subdivision of the empty space is performed by rearranging the files in the recording unit from the beginning, that is, defragmentation ("defragmentation"). ) Is eliminated.

  Various techniques have been disclosed for this defragmentation.

For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a technique in which defragmentation is automatically executed in parallel with the reproduction of sequential data requested from a host system.
JP 2002-268924 A

  In the file recording apparatus, the recording operation with respect to the recording means is impossible during the defragmentation. Therefore, defragmentation is an effective process from the viewpoint of organizing the recording area in the recording means, but a process that may cause a disadvantage to the user from the viewpoint of making the recording means incapable of recording operation. turn into.

  The present invention has been conceived in view of such circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a file recording apparatus that executes defragmentation processing at an appropriate timing.

  A file recording apparatus according to an aspect of the present invention uses a recording unit divided into a plurality of blocks, an input unit that receives information input from a user, and the recording unit to record a file. A use determination unit that determines whether or not the recording unit is used at predetermined time intervals, a time determination unit that determines a time when the recording unit is not used, using a determination result of the use determination unit, and a time input to the input unit The recording means is arranged by rearranging the recorded block and the unrecorded block in the recording means on the condition that the recording means is not used or the time when the recording means is not used. And a control means for executing a defragmentation process for increasing the physically continuous unused blocks, wherein the use determination means Determining whether the recording means is used, the time determining means determines a time when the recording means is not used by referring to a determination result for a predetermined number of days by the use determining means; The information for reserving the use of the recording means is input to the input means, and execution of the defragmentation process is prohibited when the information to be reserved is valid.

  A file recording apparatus according to another aspect of the present invention includes a recording unit that is divided into a plurality of blocks, an input unit that receives information input from a user, and an input unit that records the file. The number of unused blocks physically continuous in the recording means is increased by rearranging the recorded blocks and the unrecorded blocks in the recording means on the condition that the time has reached And a control means for executing defragmentation processing.

  A file recording apparatus according to still another aspect of the present invention includes: a recording unit that is divided into a plurality of blocks to record a file; a time determination unit that determines a time when the recording unit is not used; and the recording unit On the condition that the time when the means has not been used is reached, the recording means continuously rearranges the recorded block and the unrecorded block in the recording means, so that the recording means is physically unused. Control means for executing a defragmentation process for increasing the number of blocks.

  In the file recording apparatus according to the present invention, the use determining unit determines whether the recording unit is used every predetermined time, and the time determining unit refers to a determination result by the use determining unit. Thus, it is preferable to determine a time when the recording means is not used.

  Further, in the file recording apparatus according to the present invention, when the control means inputs information for reserving the use of the recording means to the input means, and the reservation information is valid, the control means It is preferable to prohibit execution of the defragmentation process.

  According to the present invention, the defragmentation process for the recording means is automatically started at the time input by the user. As a result, even if the recording means becomes unable to perform the recording operation by the defragmentation process, the user does not feel that a disadvantage has been given because the user has recognized that in advance. That is, in the file recording apparatus, the defragmentation process is executed at an appropriate timing without causing the user to feel disadvantageous.

  According to the present invention, the defragmentation process for the recording means is automatically started at the time when the user decides not to use the recording means. As a result, the time when the recording means cannot perform the recording operation by the defragmentation process is a time when the user is considered not to use the recording means. Never feel profited. That is, in the file recording apparatus, defragmentation is executed at an appropriate timing that does not cause any disadvantage to the user.

  According to the present invention, the time when the user does not use the recording means is determined using the result of the use determining means determining whether or not the user is using the recording means every predetermined time. Therefore, the time when the user does not use the recording means is determined more accurately.

  Further, according to the present invention, the defragmentation process is prohibited when the information for reserving the use of the recording means is valid. Therefore, the situation where the use of the reserved recording means is hindered by the defragmentation process is surely avoided.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of an information recording / reproducing apparatus 100 as an example of a file recording apparatus of the present invention.

  In FIG. 1, when a digital broadcast channel designation signal is supplied from the system control circuit 10, the tuner 11 receives a digital broadcast wave of the designated channel. At this time, the tuner 11 obtains an MPEG (Moving Picture Experts Group) signal by demodulating the received digital broadcast wave, and supplies this to the hard disk device 12 and the selector 13 as an MPEG signal M1. The tuner 11 is supplied with a channel designation signal for analog television broadcasting (NTSC (National Television Standards Committee), PAL (Phase Alternation by Line), or SECAM (SEquential Couleur A Memoire)) from the system control circuit 10. If it is, the analog television broadcast wave of the designated channel is received. At this time, the tuner 11 supplies a television signal obtained by demodulating the received analog television broadcast wave to the MPEG encoder 14. The MPEG encoder 14 supplies a signal obtained by subjecting the television signal to MPEG coding processing to the hard disk device 12 as an MPEG signal M2.

  The information recording / reproducing apparatus 100 includes a timer 25 having a time measuring function. The system control circuit 10 is connected to the timer 25 and can refer to the time measured by the timer 25.

  Further, the information recording / reproducing apparatus 100 operates by receiving power from an external AC power supply 300. Specifically, the information recording / reproducing apparatus 100 includes a voltage converter 110, and the voltage supplied from the AC power supply 300 is adapted to each element (such as the hard disk device 12) in the information recording / reproducing apparatus 100 in the voltage converter 110. It is operated by being supplied to each element after being converted into a voltage to be applied. A mode of supplying power to each element in the information recording / reproducing apparatus 100 will be described later.

  FIG. 2 schematically shows the contents of the storage area of the hard disk 120. The hard disk 120 includes a time shift area 120A, which is a ring buffer, and a recording area 120B for recording information (such as a file corresponding to program data) for a long period of time. Note that the sizes of the time shift area 120A and the recording area 120B in the hard disk 120 are determined based on, for example, information input via the operation device 22 by the user. In the hard disk 120, the position of the time shift area 120A and the position of the recording area 120B are managed by recording addresses of the respective areas in a memory (not shown) in the system control circuit 10.

  When time shift reproduction is performed in the information recording / reproducing apparatus 100, the recording / reproducing head 121 of the hard disk apparatus 12 converts the MPEG signal M 1 or M 2 into the hard disk 120 according to the recording command signal supplied from the system control circuit 10. Recording is performed in the time shift area 120A.

  At this time, the system control circuit 10 supplies a count start command for starting the count operation to the write position counter 15 (described as “WP counter” in FIG. 1) 15, and the current count value is stored in the time shift area 120A. Is supplied to the hard disk device 12 as a write position WP to be designated. Further, the system control circuit 10 supplies the write position counter 15 with a recording speed signal SW that designates a recording speed according to the bit rate of the MPEG signal M1 or M2 to be recorded. As a result, the write position counter 15 counts up at a speed corresponding to the recording speed signal SW.

  That is, when time-shift playback is performed, the recording / playback head 121 places the MPEG signal M1 or M2 carrying the broadcast program received by the tuner 11 at a position indicated by the write position WP in the time-shift area 120A. Record. At this time, since the write position WP changes at a speed corresponding to the recording speed signal SW, the recording / reproducing head 121 applies the MPEG signal M1 or M2 to the time shift area 120A at the recording speed indicated by the recording speed signal SW. Will be recorded.

  When time shift reproduction is performed, the recording / reproducing head 121 reads out a recording signal recorded in the time shift area 120A in accordance with a reproduction command signal supplied from the system control circuit 10 and reproduces it. The signal RM is supplied to the selector 13. At this time, the system control circuit 10 supplies a count start command to start the count operation to the lead position counter (described as “RP counter” in FIG. 1) 16 and the current count value is stored in the time shift area 120A. Is supplied to the hard disk device 12 as a read position RP to be designated.

  Further, the system control circuit 10 generates a reproduction speed signal SR that should designate a reproduction speed according to the bit rate of the reproduction MPEG signal RM reproduced from the time shift area 120A, and supplies this to the read position counter 16. . As a result, the lead position counter 16 performs a count-up operation at a speed corresponding to the reproduction speed signal SR.

  That is, the recording / reproducing head 121 reads the recorded information from the position indicated by the read position RP in the time shift area 120A to obtain a reproduced MPEG signal RM. At this time, since the read position RP changes at a speed corresponding to the reproduction speed signal SR, the recording / reproducing head 121 sequentially records the recording signal from the time shift area 120A at the reproduction speed indicated by the reproduction speed signal SR. Will be read.

  The selector 13 selectively selects one of the reproduction MPEG signal RM supplied from the hard disk device 12 and the MPEG signal M1 supplied from the tuner 11 according to the selection signal supplied from the system control circuit 10. This is selected and supplied to the MPEG decoder 17. The MPEG decoder 17 performs an MPEG decoding process on the MPEG signal supplied from the selector 13 to obtain a video signal and supplies it to the selector 18 as a video signal DAV.

  An OSD (On Screen Display) image generation circuit 19 generates a message image signal DC to display an image corresponding to various message display commands supplied from the system control circuit 10, and supplies this to the selector 18. The selector 18 selectively selects one of the video signal DAV and the message image signal DC according to the selection signal supplied from the system control circuit 10 and supplies it to the display device 200.

  The display device 200 performs image display based on the video signal DAV or message image signal DC supplied from the information recording / reproducing device 100.

  The operating device 22 receives a broadcast channel specifying operation, a recorded program specifying operation, a recording command operation, a playback command operation, a recording stop operation, a playback stop operation, and the like from the user, and various operation signals corresponding to the operation are received. This is supplied to the system control circuit 10. The operation device 22 may be a remote controller that is separated from the housing of the information recording / reproducing device 100.

  In response to various operations by the user using the operation device 22, the system control circuit 10 can cause the information recording / reproducing device 100 to perform television monitor, recording, and time shift reproduction.

  The TV monitor is an operation for viewing a program being broadcast in real time. In this case, the user performs a broadcast channel designation operation for designating a desired broadcast channel using the operation device 22. In response to this operation, the system control circuit 10 supplies the tuner 11 with a channel designation signal for receiving the program of the desired broadcast channel. At the same time, the system control circuit 10 supplies the selector 13 with a selection signal that should alternatively be derived from the MPEG signal M1 output from the tuner 11 to the MPEG decoder 17. Further, the system control circuit 10 supplies the selector 18 with a selection signal to be alternatively derived from the audio signal DAV output from the MPEG decoder 17 to the display device 200.

  By such control, the MPEG signal M1 obtained by receiving and demodulating by the tuner 11 is supplied to the MPEG decoder 17 via the selector 13. Then, the audio signal DAV decoded by the MPEG decoder 17 is supplied to the display device 200 via the selector 18. As a result, the display device 200 displays the digital broadcast program of the desired channel received by the tuner 11 as an image in real time.

  The recording operation is an operation for recording a program received by the tuner 11 as described above. In this case, the user performs a recording command operation using the operation device 22. In response to such a recording command operation, the system control circuit 10 supplies a recording command signal to the hard disk device 12 and takes in the current count value of the write position counter 15 and supplies it to the hard disk device 12 as the write position WP. Supply. Further, the system control circuit 10 obtains a recording speed signal SW corresponding to the bit rate of the MPEG signal M1 or M2 obtained by the tuner 11 and stores it in a built-in register (not shown). It is supplied to the light position counter 15. Thus, the hard disk device 12 sequentially records the MPEG signal M1 or M2 from the position in the time shift area 120A indicated by the write position WP at a speed corresponding to the recording speed signal SW.

  The time-shift playback operation is an operation for performing so-called time-shift playback in which a recorded program is played back simultaneously with the above-described recording operation. In this case, the user uses the operation device 22 to perform a reproduction command operation and a recorded program designation operation.

  Here, the read position RP and the write position WP in the time shift region 120A in the time shift reproduction operation are schematically shown in FIG.

  The time shift area 120A is composed of a plurality of sectors. FIG. 3 shows eight sectors as part of the time shift area 120A. In FIG. 3, the direction in which the read position RP and the write position WP in the time shift area 120 </ b> A move with the passage of time is indicated by an arrow X. In FIG. 3, in the time shift reproduction operation, the read position RP is located in the sector 1201 and the write position WP is located in the sector 1204.

  In the information recording / reproducing apparatus 100, when the user changes from the time shift reproduction operation to the recording operation in such a state, the system control circuit 10 starts the write position WP from the sector 1201 including the read position RP. Up to the sector 1204 including, that is, the four sectors 1201 to 1204 are functioned as recording areas while being in the time shift area 120A. Specifically, the system control circuit 10 changes the attribute in the memory (not shown) in the system control circuit 10 for the addresses corresponding to the four sectors 1201 to 1204 from the time shift area to the recording area. Let The sector is an example of a minimum unit that can be handled by the system control circuit 10 in the information recording / reproducing apparatus 100 such as attribute assignment.

  Here, due to such attribute change, the size of the region that actually functions as the time shift region in the time shift region 120A is smaller than the size of the region designated by the user as the time shift region. For this reason, the system control circuit 10 records the attributes in the memory (not shown) in the system control circuit 10 for the areas of the same size as the areas of the four sectors 1201 to 1204 in the recording area 120B. Change from region to time shift region.

  That is, in the above case, as shown in FIG. 4, the system control circuit 10 changes the attributes of the four sectors 1201 to 1204 in the time shift area 120A to the recording area and also records the recording area 120B. The attribute of the area 1210 is changed to the time shift area. Note that the size of the area 1210 is the same as the size of the sectors 1201 to 1204 added together.

  When the attribute change is performed a plurality of times in the recording area 120B, it is preferable that the area whose attribute is changed in the recording area 120B is an area adjacent to the area whose attribute was changed last time. Specifically, referring to FIG. 5, in the recording area 120B, when the attribute of the area 1211 is changed to the time shift area, the attribute change target is the area 1211 next. The adjacent region 1212 is preferable. Furthermore, when the attributes of the regions 1211 and 1212 are changed to the time shift region, it is preferable that the region 1213 is the next target of attribute change.

  In FIG. 5, an arrow Y indicates a moving direction of the WP with time in the recording area 120B. In the recording area 120B, as shown in FIG. 5, the attribute is changed to the time shift area, which is an area that is recorded as late as possible (to which information is to be written). preferable.

  FIG. 6 is a power supply circuit diagram in the information recording / reproducing apparatus 100.

  The voltage converter 110 is connected to the system control circuit 10, is connected to the hard disk device 12 via the transistor 101, is connected to the MPEG encoder 14 and the MPEG decoder 17 via the transistor 102, and is connected to the tuner via the transistor 103. 11 is connected. As a result, the system control circuit 10 controls the ON / OFF state of the transistors 101 to 103, thereby controlling the ON / OFF state of power supply to the hard disk device 12, the MPEG encoder 14, the MPEG decoder 17, and the tuner 11. be able to. In the information recording / reproducing apparatus 100, the power supply to the hard disk device 12, the MPEG encoder 14, the MPEG decoder 17, and the tuner 11 is turned off, and power is supplied only to the system control circuit 10. It is called a state.

  FIG. 7 is a flowchart of processing executed by the system control circuit 10 in the information recording / reproducing apparatus 100.

  Referring to FIG. 7, when power is supplied, system control circuit 10 first executes a process according to an input from a user in step S <b> 11 (hereinafter, “step” is omitted). Specifically, each element in the information recording / reproducing apparatus 100 is operated according to the content input from the user via the operation device 22.

  Next, in S12, the system control circuit 10 refers to the timer 25 to determine whether or not the time specified in advance for the user to execute the defragmentation process has been reached. If it is determined that it is such a time, the process proceeds to S13, and if it is not yet such a time, the process returns to S11. The defragmentation process is a process for securing a continuous unrecorded area in the hard disk 120. However, in the present embodiment, a continuous unrecorded area is further recorded in each of the time shift area 120A and the recorded area 120B. This is a process for securing a recording area.

  In S <b> 13, the system control circuit 10 determines in the information recording / reproducing apparatus 100 whether there is data to reserve recording. Note that the absence of reservation data means that there is no valid data for reservation. In other words, “effective” means that the recording operation is scheduled to be executed based on the data to be reserved, and the recording time and the like are stored in the information recording / reproducing apparatus 100. This means that the case where the recording is not executed at the recording time is excluded. If it is determined that there is no data to reserve recording, the process proceeds to S14, and if it is determined, the process proceeds to S17.

  In S14, the system control circuit 10 determines whether or not the information recording / reproducing apparatus 100 is in a state where defragmentation processing must be performed. Specifically, for example, the recording status in the time shift area 120A and the recording area 120B is checked, and it is determined whether or not the degree of subdivision of the free space is a predetermined degree. If the degree of subdivision is greater than or equal to a predetermined degree, it is determined that the defragmentation process must be performed. Note that the determination of whether or not the predetermined degree is achieved is, for example, by determining whether or not a predetermined number or more of empty spaces that are not physically continuous with each other and that are less than a predetermined size have occurred, Done. If it is determined that the defragmentation process must be performed, the process proceeds to S15. If it is determined that the defragmentation process is not performed, the process proceeds to S17.

  In S15, the system control circuit 10 determines whether or not the information recording / reproducing apparatus 100 is in the above-described standby state. If it is determined that the information recording / reproducing apparatus 100 is in the standby state, the system control circuit 10 determines that the state is not such a state. And the process proceeds to S17.

  In S16, the system control circuit 10 performs defragmentation processing for the time shift area 120A and the recording area 120B. In the defragmentation process in the present embodiment, in addition to the conventional defragmentation process, the area that was originally the time shift area 120A but changed to the recording area 120B is returned to the time shift area 120A, or it was originally the recording area 120B. Processing for returning the area changed to the shift area 120A to the recording area 120B is also performed. When the defragmentation process in S16 is completed, the process returns to S14.

  On the other hand, in S17, if the defragmentation process is being performed, the process is forcibly terminated, and then the process returns to S11.

  In the present embodiment described above, in the information recording / reproducing apparatus 100, if there is no reservation data or the like at the time designated by the user, the defragmentation process is performed. In the information recording / reproducing apparatus 100, the information recording / reproducing apparatus 100 determines a time at which the user is not disadvantaged by the defragmenting process, and the defragmenting process is automatically performed at the time. May be.

  With respect to such a modification, a process executed by the system control circuit 10 will be described below with reference to FIG. 8 which is a flowchart of the process.

  When power is supplied, the system control circuit 10 first executes a process according to an input from the user in S21. Specifically, each element in the information recording / reproducing apparatus 100 is operated according to the content input from the user via the operation device 22.

  Next, in S22, the system control circuit 10 determines whether or not a predetermined time has elapsed since the previous processing of S23. If it is determined that the time has elapsed, the process proceeds to S23. If it is determined that the time has not yet elapsed, the process returns to S21.

  In S <b> 23, the system control circuit 10 performs an ON / OFF check process for the hard disk device 12. The ON / OFF check process is a process of checking whether the power supply to the hard disk device 12 is turned on by checking ON / OFF of the transistor 101. The checked result is stored in a memory (not shown) in the system control circuit 10. The ON / OFF check process is performed every predetermined time mentioned in S22. Here, every predetermined time can be, for example, every 30 minutes. The system control circuit 10 records the ON / OFF state of the hard disk device 12 for each day. An example of this recording is shown in FIG.

  In the example shown in FIG. 9, the time constituting one day is divided every 30 minutes and is set to T0 to T47. The ON / OFF check results for T0 to T47 are recorded in a graph. That is, the result of 48 checks per day is recorded. In the example shown in FIG. 9, for T0 to T47, the time that is continuously ON or OFF is recorded as being continuously ON or OFF. Is not limited to this. Only the check results of T0 to T47 may be recorded in a bar graph or a table format.

  Next, in S <b> 24, the system control circuit 10 refers to the timer 25 to determine whether or not it is time when the user is considered not to use the hard disk device 12. The time when the user is assumed not to use the hard disk device 12 is determined by the system control circuit 10 based on the ON / OFF check result of the hard disk device 12 as shown in FIG. Is the time when all the weeks were turned off or the time when there were the most days turned off by referring to the check results for a certain period (for example, one week). If it is determined that the time has come, the process proceeds to S25. If it is determined that the time has not yet been reached, the process returns to S21.

  In S25, the system control circuit 10 determines in the information recording / reproducing apparatus 100 whether there is data to reserve recording. If it is determined that there is no data to reserve recording, the process proceeds to S26, and if it is determined, the process proceeds to S29.

  In S26, the system control circuit 10 determines whether or not the information recording / reproducing apparatus 100 is in a state where defragmentation processing must be performed. If it is determined that the defragmentation process must be performed, the process proceeds to S27. If it is determined that the defragmentation process is not performed, the process proceeds to S29.

  In S27, the system control circuit 10 determines whether or not the information recording / reproducing apparatus 10 is in the standby state. If it is determined that the information recording / reproducing apparatus 10 is in the standby state, the system control circuit 10 determines that the state is not such a state. And the process proceeds to S29.

  In S28, the system control circuit 10 performs a defragmentation process for the time shift area 120A and the recording area 120B. When the defragmentation process in S28 is completed, the process returns to S26.

  On the other hand, in S29, if the defragmentation process is being performed, the process is forcibly terminated and then the process returns to S21.

  In the present embodiment described above, the defragmentation process is performed after it is determined that there is no reservation data at a time specified in advance by the user or when it is considered that the user does not use the hard disk device 12 much. Executed.

  If the user himself / herself does not need such a defragmentation process and performs a predetermined input, the defragmentation process may not be performed. Specifically, when the predetermined input is performed, the processing after S13 shown in FIG. 7 or the processing after S25 shown in FIG. 8 may not be executed.

  The embodiment disclosed this time should be considered as illustrative in all points and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is defined by the terms of the claims, rather than the description above, and is intended to include any modifications within the scope and meaning equivalent to the terms of the claims.

It is a figure which shows the structure of the information recording / reproducing apparatus which is an example of the data storage / reproducing apparatus of this invention. It is a figure which shows typically the content of the storage area of the hard disk of FIG. FIG. 2 is a diagram schematically showing RP and WP in a time shift region in a time shift reproduction operation of the information recording / reproducing apparatus in FIG. 1. It is a figure for demonstrating the change of an attribute of the four sectors in the time shift area | region of the information recording / reproducing apparatus of FIG. 1, and the one part area | region in a video recording area | region. It is a figure for demonstrating the preferable aspect at the time of an attribute change being performed in the video recording area | region of the information recording / reproducing apparatus of FIG. It is a power supply circuit diagram of the information recording / reproducing apparatus of FIG. 3 is a flowchart of processing executed by a system control circuit in the information recording / reproducing apparatus of FIG. 1. It is a flowchart of the process of the modification of the process shown in FIG. It is a figure for demonstrating the content of the ON / OFF check process of FIG.

Explanation of symbols

  10 system control circuit, 11 tuner, 12 hard disk drive, 13, 18 selector, 14 MPEG encoder, 15 write position counter, 16 read position counter, 17 MPEG decoder, 19 OSD image generation circuit, 22 operation device, 25 timer, 100 information Recording / reproducing apparatus, 101-103 transistor, 110 voltage converter, 120 hard disk, 120A time shift area, 120B recording area, 200 display apparatus, 300 AC power supply.

Claims (5)

Recording means divided into a plurality of blocks to record the file;
An input means for receiving information input from a user;
Use determination means for determining whether or not the recording means is used at predetermined time intervals;
Time determination means for determining a time when the recording means is not used, using a determination result of the use determination means;
The recorded block and the unrecorded block are recorded in the recording unit on the condition that the time input to the input unit is reached or the recording unit is not used. Control means for executing defragmentation processing to increase unused blocks that are physically continuous in the recording means by rearranging,
The use determining means determines whether the recording means is used every predetermined time,
The time determination means determines a time when the recording means is not used by referring to a determination result for a predetermined number of days by the use determination means,
The file recording apparatus, wherein the control means inputs information for reserving use of the recording means to the input means, and prohibits execution of the defragmentation process when the information to be reserved is valid. Recording means divided into a plurality of blocks to record the file;
An input means for receiving information input from a user;
On the condition that the time input to the input means has come, the recorded means and the unrecorded blocks are rearranged in the recording means, so that the recording means is not physically continuous. Control means for performing defragmentation processing to increase the block of use. Recording means divided into a plurality of blocks to record the file;
Time determining means for determining a time when the recording means is not used;
Physically continuous in the recording means by rearranging the recorded blocks and unrecorded blocks in the recording means on the condition that the recording means is not in use Control means for executing a defragmentation process for increasing unused blocks. The use determining means determines whether the recording means is used every predetermined time,
The file recording apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the time determination unit determines a time when the recording unit is not used by referring to a determination result by the use determination unit.   The control unit prohibits execution of the defragmentation process when information for reserving use of the recording unit is input to the input unit, and the information to be reserved is valid. The file recording apparatus according to claim 4.

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